In a 2011 during a session of Prime Minister’s Questions the right wing commentator tweeted: “That’s quite a cleavage behind Ed M[iliband].”

He followed that up a year later with: “Serious cleavage behind Ed Miliband’s head. Anyone know who it belongs to?”

In another tweet he joked about a woman pictured with him that he “had my d*** up her a***”.

He has also referred to gay women as “hard-core dykes” and described singer George Michael as “queer as a coot”.

Dawn Butler, the Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, told the Independent: “By any measure, this is a shocking appointment by the Prime Minister. These comments show that Toby Young is completely unsuitable for this role.

“If she fails to rethink this appointment, the message Theresa May is sending to students is that under the Tories, misogyny and homophobia will not just be tolerated but rewarded.”

But Mr Johnson dismissed the call, tweeting this morning: "Ridiculous outcry over Toby Young. He will bring independence, rigour and caustic wit. Ideal man for job."

Responding to the criticism Mr Young said: “I’m neither misogynistic nor homophobic. I’m a strong supporter of both women’s rights and LGBT rights.”

The journalist has set up two free schools and attended Harvard and Cambridge universities.

Contributions from readers

smartboy

13:36 on 3rd January 2018

Toby Young's is on record as saying vile things about gay people, women, disabled and the working class who he informs us are known as stains when attending top university colleges. He has used filthy language to express his views which are homophobic sexist and mocking.It is a very sad but real reflection of Conservative values when an individual with like this is knowingly appointed to the Universities board and defended by the Foreign Secretary.